The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the return of 115 Nigerian citizens who were trafficked to Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the returnees are expected to arrive in Lagos at around 3 p.m. via a special Air Peace flight, arranged at no cost to the Nigerian government.
“The Ministry wishes to inform that one hundred and fifteen (115) Nigerian nationals, victims of human trafficking, will be repatriated from Abidjan, Ivory Coast today,” the statement said.
“They will land at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, around 3 p.m.”
This follows a commitment made by Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, who earlier offered to evacuate underage Nigerian girls trafficked to the West African country without charging the government.
In a message posted on the airline’s official X account, Onyema denounced human trafficking as a cruel and inhumane act, urging Nigerians to unite against it.
“We must all rise against human trafficking. It is wicked, inhumane, and unworthy of a civilized society. Air Peace is ready to bring our people back home without asking for a dime,” Onyema said.
He added that all returnees would receive free medical screening and treatment at Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos.
Onyema also called on the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire to coordinate the process and urged the Federal Government to take responsibility for their education and reintegration into society.